Lavardin is reference integrated amplifier

You know - the feeling that you've been somewhere, or done something before? Well it does happen, and it's just happened to me, in the shape of a slightly average looking amplifier that relatively recently redefined my hi-fi quality parameters, set my ears alight, and completely convinced me that I would never, ever, find any amplifier that could out-perform it, lavardin is reference integrated amplifier. Rule 1: Never say never!

One of my last real jobs in audio was to let down what would become Lavardin. I was working in a well-known audio retailer at the time, and we already had more than our fair share of amplifiers. Although we were always interested in new designs, the chances of the store taking on a new brand both new to the store and new to audio were limited. Sadly, we still had no choice but to turn down Lavardin, but in fairness, it was still very much a work in progress. Fast-forward to the present, and Lavardin has built a small, but loyal, following in the audiophile community. So, when the opportunity arose to test the latest Model ISx integrated from the brand, we jumped at the chance. Lavardin remains suitably gnomic about the new models, having made no announcement on its site and having virtually no information about the new product made available to the public as yet.

Lavardin is reference integrated amplifier

Amazing Grace. July A simple black box with just two knobs on its front panel, the IS Reference could easily be mistaken for a purist, hair-shirt, English design where the inclusion of even a balance control is taken as a decadent frill. The French are well known for making the small details of life an artistic experience. You just have to love a culture where the government subsidizes the baking of baguettes and where small talk is usually a detailed and loving description of a wonderful meal of two nights ago. It is a gentle hint of the sensual pleasure the Lavardin evokes when playing music. Now being imported by the very capable Walter Swanbon of Fidelis AV, Lavardin is back to stay and with very attractive special introductory pricing. Crozel never forgets that audio engineering and design always serves the aesthetic end of music. To achieve this presupposes that the designer must have an aesthetic sensibility to start with, and that technical education and training augment and serve as a means to that end. Typical engineering studies, particularly in the USA, tend to be technoid to the point of being philistine. I recall in-print remarks from engineers of this a-musical technoid school in Audio and Stereo Review stating that it would be nice to eliminate the subjective listener from design considerations altogether. One can just see the Gallic lip curl at such insanity. The sensual aesthetic experience, both in the sonority of the instruments and of the artistic message they relate, is sine qua non for music-oriented designers. The subjective listener is paramount.

It is about drawing the potential customers' attention to an aspect that is unique to a given company.

If we look closely, it turns out that there is really no such thing as "lineup" in their case. At least if by lineup one understands the ordered, structured logically fitting to different price shelves set of devices, then only medium and large size manufacturers are able to plan the lineup and refresh it on regular basis. On the one hand, new devices appear spontaneously when the designer - usually the owner at the same time - prepares something that can be called a "new" and at the same time "satisfying" his expectations product. In such a case, we are offered something really new and well-thought-through. This is an advantage that I would call "personal".

One of my last real jobs in audio was to let down what would become Lavardin. I was working in a well-known audio retailer at the time, and we already had more than our fair share of amplifiers. Although we were always interested in new designs, the chances of the store taking on a new brand both new to the store and new to audio were limited. Sadly, we still had no choice but to turn down Lavardin, but in fairness, it was still very much a work in progress. Fast-forward to the present, and Lavardin has built a small, but loyal, following in the audiophile community. So, when the opportunity arose to test the latest Model ISx integrated from the brand, we jumped at the chance. Lavardin remains suitably gnomic about the new models, having made no announcement on its site and having virtually no information about the new product made available to the public as yet.

Lavardin is reference integrated amplifier

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If the Model ISx takes ten minutes to come on song, then it may take you ten and a half minutes to realise why this brand has a loyal following. Moreover it does this without sounding labored, analytic, or superficially spectacular. Oh, and a label telling you what it is and who made it and so on. Unless it's exactly what you're looking for, then there is nothing to talk about at all. This is an advantage which we must naturally call a "scale". The tested unit was a Red Edition, i. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The sound was, given the age of recordings, phenomenal in its truthness. I remember talking with designer Ralph Karsten of AtmaSphere some ten years ago about why he worked exclusively with tubes. Learn how your comment data is processed. Performance Performance. Its creators gave up almost all features that make using the device more convenient, except for the remote control. This cookie can only be read from the domain they are set on and will not track any data while browsing through other sites. Fast-forward to the present, and Lavardin has built a small, but loyal, following in the audiophile community.

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget.

As a result they constitute a much smaller percentage of the costs of a given device. Manage consent. Unless it's exactly what you're looking for, then there is nothing to talk about at all. The pattern element in the name contains the unique identity number of the account or website it relates to. The metal sheets are painted black and the front is anodized for a perfect red color. Further more, the direct connection to the heart of the amplifier guaranties better sonic results than any external devices. A garden-variety AC cord was up to the job; more exotic and expensive after-market cords offered no musical improvement. But it does not withdraw the entire treble - it was immediately clear that this recording was made on analog tape without any noise reduction system. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. There is no "Tape Monitor" switch - if you want playback, you just go to number 4 on the selector knob. But there will be no perfect control at the bottom, one should not expect exceptional clarity or focus.